The Rolwaling trek is one of the most challenging treks in Nepal, which will take you to the Rolwaling valley and the Khumbu region. The Rolwaling valley is also known as the ‘Grave’ simply because of its tough geographical location. It’s more climbing than trekking since one also needs basic peak climbing skills.

The major highlight of Rolwaling valley trekking is the captivating sight of Mt Langtang, Gauri Shankar and Mt Everest, which is highly appealing. The valley is abundant with glacial lakes, glaciers, moraines, high pastures, waterfalls, isolated villages and more. Because of lying on the Nepal-Tibet border and being closed in the past years, few trekkers have completed this trekking. The trail between the vast mountains and the natural beauty is just perplexing when one gets down to this beautiful valley.

The small Sherpa settlements in Beding and Na, which offer you the typical local traditions and the toughest Tashi Lapcha pass between Rolwaling valley and the Khumbu region, can become a unique and the most extraordinary experience in the Nepal Himalayan journey. The Rolwaling trek is best to be done in spring and autumn times. Only hardy trekkers or professionals are recommended for this trekking.

Rolwaling Trek detailed itinerary
**BLD denotes Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner**

Day 01: Drive to Shigati via Dolkha 1650m, BLD, Lodge / Camp

We drive all the way to Shigati and, later, trek to Suri Dobhan through farmed terraces and scattered villages. Overnight camp at Suri Dobhan.

Day 02: Trek to Jagat 1440m, BLD, Lodge / Camp

We trek along the Bhote Koshi River and then continue on the flatland to arrive at Jagat, a small town with people of different ethnicities.

Day 03: Trek to Simigaon 1990m, BLD, Lodge / Camp

The path slowly starts gaining altitude this day. As the valley narrows, we cross the suspension bridge to take a steep climb to the Sherpa village of Simigaon.

Day 04: Trek to Kharka 2900m, BLD, Lodge / Camp

We continue our trek to the fascinating Rolwaling valley. On a clear morning, the view of Gauri Shankar is just fabulous. We ultimately descend to Rolwaling Khola (river) for the overnight stop.

Day 05: Trek to Beding 3690m, BLD, Lodge / Camp

Our trek continues uphill past the forests of rhododendron and other tree lines. The trail rises further until we arrive at Beding, the largest village in the valley.

Day 06: Trek to Na 4180m, BLD, Lodge / Camp

Passing through the several settlements of Beding, watching the yaks grazing warmly and the people busy in their chores, we continue a short day walk to the village of Na to feast the eyes with the majestic view of impressive peaks Chobutse (6685m) and Chugimago (6259m).

Day 07: Trek to Tso Rolpa lake 4588m, BLD, Lodge / Camp

After a short flat plane walks, we ascend to the glacial lake Tso Rolpa lake to enjoy the fantastic vistas of the Tibetan side mountains. Then we climb up the lateral moraine of the Rolwaling glacier to stay the night.

Day 08: Trek to Trakarding glacier 4800m, BLD, Lodge / Camp

For all day, we will gradually walk through the glacier moraines while enjoying the beauty of nature and finally resting by the Trakarding glacier.

Day 09: Trek to Tashi Lapcha base camp 5010m, BLD, Lodge / Camp

The walk follows the rugged rocky glacier this day. Soon we will be at Drolumbau glacier, surrounded by superb mountain sceneries. Further downhill trek, we will arrive at the foot of Tashi Lapcha for overnight camping.

Day 10: Cross Tashi Lapcha pass 5755m, BLD, Lodge / Camp

As we continue trekking through Tashi Lapcha pass, the views of Khumbu peaks are magnificent and extraordinary. Further downhill, we will be camping below the overhanging rocks, where we can have stunning sunset views.

Day 11: Pachermo ascent 6272m, BLD, Lodge / Camp

First, we climb to the neck of Tashi Lapcha, and then we start climbing Pachermo peak. Thorough planning and preparation are required for this ascent, sometimes requiring fixed ropes too. Though it’s difficult, the views of Khumbu peaks from the top are mindblowing. The rest of the journey is downhill to arrive at Thengpo for the overnight stop.

Day 12: Trek to Thame 3820m, BLD, Lodge

The easy and gradual descent today will take us to Thame, the first village after we had crossed Beding. You will have a great view of the majestic peaks in the Khumbu region.

Day 13: Trek back to Lukla, BLD, Lodge

Traveling with the Dudh Koshi River side by side, the trail goes steeply downward first and then moderately fine. We'll pass through Sherpa settlements and the rhododendron and pine forests to arrive in Lukla to catch the flight the next day.

Day 14: Fly to Kathmandu, B.

After our long and tiring journey, we will take a sweeping half-hour flight back to Kathmandu to relax in the hotel.

Cost for 1 PAX: $3300 /-

Cost for 2 or more PAX: $2800 per person

Note: Trip cost varies with the group sizes.

Rolwaling Trek cost breakdown

Cost Include

• All ground transfers
• Camping (lodge on availability) on the mountain
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea/coffee
• Required trekking and climbing permits
• Camping gears, equipment and required field staff
• Healthy diets and clean drinking water
• Duffel bag, walking sticks, sleeping bag and down jacket (provided on request but to be returned after)
• First Aid medical kit bag with a pulse oximeter
• Complimentary company t-shirt/route map and certificate of appreciation
• All government Tax and VAT

Cost Exclude

• Personal expenses
• Extra accommodation and meals behind schedule
• Travel and emergency rescue insurance
• Gratuities to the field staff (highly expected)

Rolwaling Trek Useful Information

Customized Trips and Trip departure

Rolwaling Trek departs from Kathmandu as per our fixed departure dates. You can join any available fixed departure groups if you are a solo or small group travelers if you wish to, when the trips cannot be customized.

But if you are in a private group, fixed departure dates are not suitable for you and so you need to choose your own dates and packages, when you can customize the trek as per your travel needs. For further information, please kindly contact your own friendly neighbor, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours.

Accommodations in Kathmandu and during trek

You will be staying in the teahouse lodges or the tented camps during the trek.

Route Map and Company T-shirt

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours offers you a complimentary trekking map and the company t-shirts.

Safe Drinking Water during Rolwaling Trek

Hydrating yourself is the most important thing to do during the trek. You should drink at least 3 liters of water every day or more. The main reason is to avoid the altitude sickness and to avoid other health issues. Nature Lovers Treks and Tours provides you water purification tablets or liquids to purify the water in the mountains. Water will be boiled in the camping days. 

Your trekking guides and porters

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours has the best guides and porters in the whole tourism industry. We can guarantee you on that. Ask yourselves a question. What do you look for in a guide and a porter? Are they fully insured and are they paid well? Well, they are the staffs of Nature Lovers Treks and Tours so they are hundred percent happy with their treatment by the company. They are experienced, licensed and knowledgeable in the field. They are well paid and fully insured for their journey as well as for the medicals.

Now, let’s talk about our backbones. The leader or a guide should have a significant knowledge in the climbing and trekking so that he can wonderfully and safely lead you, clearing any obstacles on the way. We, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours can proudly say that our guides (climbing, assistant, trekking guide) are highly qualified for the role. They are fully trained, experienced and licensed. They have undergone through a whole lot of training to make themselves useful in various situations and to make your journey a smooth and pleasant one.

Our guide knows the local areas, the cultures, the traditions and the lifestyles much more than anyone do. Some of the things he tells you, might even be hard to find in the travel guide books. Depending upon the situations and weather conditions, the daily plans might change slightly which when happens, he will inform you beforehand. You should always be flexibly ready to accommodate to your guides’ instructions. Let him know if you have any health problems as well since he will act accordingly to the situation. Depending upon the group size, we will also provide you assistant guides and extra Sherpas if needed.

Our porters are always fully equipped with the gears they need and as per the company policy, they are always insured and completely looked after. They are our backbone. We allow maximum weight of 25/30 kg to be carried by one porter. They are the strongest in our group with less communication skills. We also closely work with IPPG {International Porter Protection Group} and follow their ethics and guidelines.

Your safety

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours puts your safety as the top priority. We provide you our own comprehensive first aid medical kit bag along with the professional team of guides and porters. We are always in communication with our field team members to keep track of your safety and concerns. Your entire journey will be monitored by us and we make sure you enjoy your journey in full scale. We are available 24/7 for your health and safety checks during Rolwaling Trek.

Rolwaling Trek Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Rolwaling Trek cost?

The cost of the Rolwaling Trek varies from $1500-$3500 depending upon the number of days you choose to trek. The longer the trek, more expensive it will become. Similarly, the price will differ with the accommodation choices also. Normally, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours offers a comprehensive package which is inclusive of all the cost and expenses for the entire journey from the moment you land in Nepal till the moment you fly back home. However, you could also choose to buy only service-based package from us when we will be providing you only the supporting field staffs plus trekking / climbing permits and you have to arrange the rest by yourselves.

How is the Accommodation during the Rolwaling Trek?

In Rolwaling Trek, we will provide you the teahouse accommodations as per availability in some days but for most of the days, you will be sleeping in the tented camps. A teahouse is typically a mountain lodge which is a combination of a lodge or a guest house and a restaurant or a café with basic furniture and interiors suitable for the social hangout. Many teahouses even have some attached bathrooms and the central heating furnace. Most of the teahouses have Asian style of toilets. Hot showers are available but on extra cost. The same goes with the hot drinking water since they use the gas or solar to boil the water. Sleeping blankets are usually provided but we recommend you to carry your own sleeping bags for the hygienic purpose {can be arranged on request}. At the same time, it’s better to carry your own toiletries including the towels.

During the camping days, you will be sleeping in the camps set up by our field Sherpa staffs. There will be separate kitchen and dining tents. Your meals will be freshly cooked and you will be served day and nights by our Sherpas. Our staffs will carry the sleeping bags, pillows and mattresses for you to sleep in the tents. Undoubtedly, you will have a perfect camping trek experience with Nature Lovers Treks and Tours.

What are the permits that I need for Rolwaling Trek?

For Rolwaling Trek, you will need to make 4 permits: Pachermo peak climbing permit, Gaurishankar Conservation Area entry fee, Sagarmatha National Park Entrance fee {can be made in Nepal Tourism Board at Kathmandu or in Monjo} and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance fee {obtained in Lukla}.

How does this tipping system in Nepal works and do I have to tip?

Tipping is not compulsory for Rolwaling Trek however tipping is all about showing your gratitude and appreciation. We care about our staffs in the fields so we expect you to look after them in return for them looking after you throughout your journey. They are your closest friend in the remotest parts and also your protector whenever anything seems to happen to you. So tipping is highly expected and we’ve made it mandatory too. The amount of gratuities can be determined by yourselves. Normally, a guide and also a porter expects around $10 or more per day.

Can I charge my phones, batteries or other electronic devices during Rolwaling Trek?

The charging of your electronic devices can be rarely done in this trek but in some days when you stay in the teahouse you can do so by paying small amount or fees for charging. Don’t forget to buy a plug adaptor or socket fittings before you leave Kathmandu.

Is there WiFi and mobile signal on the Rolwaling Trek?

Rolwaling Trek route has hardly any mobile networks in most of the days. But you can buy one of the NTC or Ncell Sim cards from any local phone shops in Kathmandu which has coverage in most parts of Nepal. It is wiser to buy a sim card with around 4 GB data in Kathmandu and use the mobile data in the trek if available.

When is the best time to trek to Rolwaling Valley?

Rolwaling Trek can be done throughout the year. However in average, Spring {March, April and May} and Autumn {September, October and November} are the best times or seasons to trek to Rolwaling valley. Spring and Autumn are known as the Peak season or Busy season in Nepal. It’s because the temperature is moderate during these seasons and the best panoramic mountain views are guaranteed while during other Summer {June, July and August} and Winter {December, January and February} season, the clear weather is not guaranteed. But if you are an explorer, a photographer and a peace lover, less busy season can also be the right time to do Rolwaling Trek. The problem is the weather is harsh cold in winter and there’s snow everywhere while the summer has rainfalls and clouds obscuring the mountains and the views are not so great most of the time.

Do I have to worry about the altitude sickness in Rolwaling Trek?

The itinerary of our Rolwaling Trek is perfectly designed by Nature Lovers Treks and Tours and has separated enough time in the places to let the body acclimatize well in high altitudes. As long as you follow the guide, you should be fine. Altitude sickness in fact can affect anyone regardless of the age or the fitness level, so it is very important to walk slowly and gradually as you go higher. Learn more in details about Altitude Sickness to prepare yourselves for the upcoming Rolwaling Trek.

Do I need to be healthy and physically fit for Rolwaling Trek?

When it comes to trekking in the mountains, health and fitness of a person plays a vital role. If you are a healthy person without any serious medical problems, Rolwaling Trek is for you but if you have any sorts of medical issues, please consult to your doctor before coming to Nepal for the trek. We will be gaining the high altitude of 6272 m above the sea level which is not a joke. People normally start to have breathing problems above 3000 meters from the sea level, if they have pre-existing health conditions.

Now when it comes to the fitness level required, Rolwaling Trek demands high physical fitness. The trekking includes daily walks of about 4-8 hours and involves many ascents and descents including the highest passes crossing which means you need lots of practices before you start the trekking journey. You will be traversing through the glaciers and highest passes. If you do not have the previous trekking experience, that’s fine but obviously if you have previous experiences, it will be lot easier. For those not having previous trekking experiences, please exercise regularly for at least 3 months prior to your trekking departure. Go for the morning walks, do some jogging as you get time, participate in some cycling activities, etc. This way, you will be good to go for trekking to Rolwaling valley.

What kind of food items or meals can I eat on Rolwaling Trek?

Only breakfast is included in Kathmandu while full board meals or full meals are included during the trek. Tea and coffee will also be provided during the entire trip. During the trek, you will have your breakfast and dinner in the same teahouse or tented camps where you spend the night while the lunch will be served en route towards the next destination of the day. Freshly cooked meals will be served in most of the days and usually the foods are basic and with few choices but they will certainly be healthy and nutritious. During teahouse stays, there will be enough choices from Nepali, Tibetan to Continental dishes.

Do I need a travel insurance for Rolwaling Trek?

Travel insurance is a must when you trek to Rolwaling Valley. Therefore before you come to Nepal, please make sure you have your insurance documents with you since our insurance companies cannot insure foreign nationals. Because of the reason that they cover all the expenses, if you face some unfortunate happenings and you have to be rescued or medically assisted during the trip or if your belongings are lost or stolen. We strongly advise you to take out an insurance which covers any medical risks up to 6000 meter as well as the medical evacuation from the mountains.

What gears and equipment do I need to pack for Rolwaling Trek?

Choosing the right gear and equipment is important as well for the successful trek to Rolwaling valley. Pack the right gears and equipment but remember, packing as light as possible is the best way to go when trekking to Rolwaling valley. You should read this What to take for travel to get all the details on what you need to pack or carry for Rolwaling Trek.